It’s been fun having Peter at home with the kids more. Things have changed a bit at the Otter Creek household since he quit his full time job last fall so we could take longer and more frequent tours. The Muses have a new hangout, a converted shed in the backyard, which has been conveniently stocked with myriad art supplies and comfortable chairs. Many thanks to Patrick Vier who helped out with the drywall so we could get it done in time for the Muses to have it as a holiday present. We all slept out there on Christmas Eve! First time we’ve ever had a sleepover at our kids place!

More interesting is Peter’s way of getting the kids to do things. Sure he’s got plenty of the standard “do it or else!” And being a therapist, he’s always got some elaborate behavioral scheme ready to go... (much to everyone’s dismay!)

But then there was this.

Muse 3 had to clean her room (which of course required finding the floor, etc… and it was indeed a daunting task. Having recently re-watched Mrs. Doubtfire with the kids (all the old VHS tapes along with a player made their way out to the hangout) Peter declared (in a rather indistinct British accent) that he was “Mrs. Crumblebottom” and that he needed to find an outfit to wear. Muse 3 got to pick out an item for him every time she put away 30 things. We’re glad there were no visitors that day!

Mary is loving her teaching position at SLCC and has big plans for the second run of her American Music and Culture class. Meanwhile, she’s got Peter so interested in the blues that he pulled out a resonator a friend loaned him and promptly wrote a song! (While he was supposed to be doing something else of course). Good thing we're headed out to Memphis tomorrow!Catch you on the road!!!